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I have the progression

C G Am G D G

then

C G A#sus2  E F G Am

So this is suppose to be in C major from what I know the D is a secondary dominant since it resolves to the G(I suppose), but the A#sus2 and the E major is strange to me. So whats the theory behind this and how to apply them?

Jaafar Jumaa
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  • There are no laws that dictate how chords can be used. –  May 27 '17 at 05:26
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    @MatthewRead It's true that there aren't laws that *dictate* how chords can be used, but why do you think question is based on a premise that there are? He states some terminology that *describes* use of the D - isn't it fair to assume that he wants to know some terminology that could be used to *describe* the A#sus2 - E? (I do think the question could be clearer - e.g. if it included notation, or a link to a recording - but putting on hold as opinion-based doesn't seem to put us on a path gaining to that clarification) – Нет войне May 27 '17 at 07:13
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    That A#sus 2 (probably better called Bbsus2) could be Fsus4, which brings it back into the 'key'. – Tim May 27 '17 at 11:04
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    @MatthewRead - there are no laws; the OP is asking about theory, of which there's plenty. – Tim May 27 '17 at 11:06
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    @MatthewRead Sorry for the inconvenience....what I wanted to know that if there's chord borrowing from a parallel mode or using secondary dominants...to what can we relate the A#sus2 or the E ? – Jaafar Jumaa May 27 '17 at 17:54
  • Possible duplicate of [Why do many songs in major keys use a bVII chord?](https://music.stackexchange.com/questions/29817/why-do-many-songs-in-major-keys-use-a-bvii-chord) – leftaroundabout May 27 '17 at 23:30
  • Apart from the one I would close this as a duplicate of, your question is equivalent to one [asked only three hours earlier](https://music.stackexchange.com/questions/57863/using-f-major-chord-on-a-song-in-the-key-of-g)! – leftaroundabout May 27 '17 at 23:32
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    (And: yes, this is quite definitely B♭, unless you have a very specific reason to call it A♯.) – leftaroundabout May 27 '17 at 23:39
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    Though... if you ask specifically about ♭Ⅶ → Ⅲ... then this is not quite a duplicate. – leftaroundabout May 27 '17 at 23:41
  • @leftaroundabout - the A# is a red ferret, apart from which it fits theory better as Fsus4, which actually isn't bVII>III. – Tim May 28 '17 at 09:55
  • @ Tim why does Fsus4 fits better theoretically? – Jaafar Jumaa May 30 '17 at 00:13

1 Answers1

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These two chords are Bb (bVII) and E (V/vi) in C major, so on the surface that doesn't make much sense, but let's take a detour:

The Neapolitan is the major chord at the bII position in a key, and it's a predominant chord that resolves to the dominant (V). This N - V resolution is very common in minor key classic music. E.g in E minor you might hear F/A - B7 - Em. The verse of this Schoolhouse Rock tune is i - N - V - i.

The relative minor of C is A minor, and it turns out, Bb and E is a fine N - V resolution in A minor! Now in both A minor and C major the E would typically resolve to Am, but V to bVI (E to F) is a very common deceptive cadence.

In general, squeezing in progressions from the relative minor (or other nearby keys) is a great way to spice up major key music.

Steve Clay
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  • That's a great observation, didn't occur to me! – leftaroundabout May 27 '17 at 23:44
  • +1 This is exactly it, Steve! I wonder if you'd be interested in fleshing out this answer a little bit to make it more clear? Showing exactly what the Neapolitan and dominant are, and when they're "in" what key? – Richard May 28 '17 at 00:10
  • There's something in this, although I don't think it addresses the question fully. The V/vi is all very well, but usually a secondary is followed by the target; not seeing that till 3 chords later. – Tim May 28 '17 at 09:59
  • I prefer to think of it as a standard modal 'V--VI--VII--I' following the Neapolitan. – Richard May 28 '17 at 13:03
  • @Richard See if my edit is an improvement – Steve Clay May 29 '17 at 22:49
  • @ Steve Clay thank you for this amazing explanation,so it's actually a modulation to the relative minor using the Neapolitan chord of the new mode ? since the progression ends on Am. – Jaafar Jumaa May 30 '17 at 00:06
  • I wouldn't call it a modulation unless you've really shifted the tonal center to A afterwards. The F and G chords don't strongly suggest that, but it depends on your vocal melody. – Steve Clay May 30 '17 at 02:08